Press syndication service
The Washington Post Writers Group Company type Syndication Industry Media Founded 1973; 52 years ago (1973 ) Headquarters , Area served
United States Services opinion journalists, editorial cartoonists, comic strips, and columnists Owner The Washington Post Parent The Washington Post News Service & Syndicate Divisions The Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News Website washingtonpost.com/syndication
The Washington Post Writers Group (WPWG ), a division of The Washington Post News Service & Syndicate , is a press syndication service distributing opinion columnists, breaking news, podcasts and video journalism, lifestyle content, and graphics and data visualizations. The service is operated by The Washington Post .[ 1]
History
The Washington Post Writers Group formed in 1973.[ 2]
In 2009, the Post dissolved its relationship with the Los Angeles Times (see the Los Angeles Times–Washington Post News Service ) and joined with Bloomberg News to form The Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News , which provided up to 150 national and international stories plus photos and graphics.[ 3] [ 4]
In 2013 the Writers Group was providing syndicated columns, editorial cartoons, features, and comic strips to newspapers, magazines, and other subscribers globally.[ 2]
The Washington Post Writers Group wound down distributing editorial cartoons and comic strips starting in early 2022;[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] announcing it would finish out any existing contracts.[ 8] In response, a number of strips left for other syndicates.[ 8] In addition, a group of the syndicate's editorial cartoonists — including Clay Bennett , Jack Ohman , and Pedro X. Molina — left for Nick Anderson 's Counterpoint Media , which launched its own syndication service.[ 8]
Writers
Writers syndicated by the group include Eugene Robinson , Kathleen Parker , E. J. Dionne , George Will , and Ruth Marcus . The late Charles Krauthammer was also a syndicate member.
Comic strips
The syndicate began distributing comic strips in the early 1970s;[ 8] its first notable strip was Berkeley Breathed 's Bloom County . Long-running strips distributed by the service included Brian Crane 's Pickles (1990–2022),[ 8] Dave Blazek 's Loose Parts (1991–2022),[ 8] and Darrin Bell 's strips Rudy Park (2001–2018) and Candorville (2003–2022).[ 7]
Current comic strips
As of April 2023[update] the Washington Post was syndicating:[ 1]
Fort Knox by Paul Jon Boscacci (launched in 2009)
Reply All and Reply All Lite by Donna A. Lewis (launched February 28, 2011)[ 9]
12:01 by Thomas Boldt (May 1999–c. 1999)[ 10]
Barney & Clyde by Gene Weingarten , Dan Weingarten, and David Clark (2010–2023; moved to Counterpoint Media)[ 11]
Bloom County by Berkeley Breathed (1980–1989)
Candorville by Darrin Bell (2003–2022; moved to King Features Syndicate )[ 7]
Home and Away by Steve Sicula (2003–2015)
Little Dog Lost by Steve Boreman (March 26, 2007–July 24, 2016)
Loose Parts by Dave Blazek (September 25, 2014–May 31, 2022;[ 12] moved to Andrews McMeel Syndication )[ 8] — originally acquired from Tribune Media Services (which had acquired it from the Los Angeles Times Syndicate )[ 12]
Middle Ages by Ron Jaudon (January 7, 1985–December 10, 1985)[ 13]
Mike du Jour by Mike Lester (2012–2022; moved to Andrews McMeel)[ 14]
Out of the Gene Pool / Single and Looking by Matt Janz (2001–2008)
Outland by Berkeley Breathed (1989-1995)
Opus by Berkeley Breathed (2003–2008)
Pickles by Brian Crane (1990–2022; moved to Andrews McMeel)[ 8]
Red and Rover by Brian Basset (2000–2010; moved to Universal Uclick/Andrews McMeel, where it continues to the present)
Rudy Park by Darrin Bell (c. 2011–2018; acquired from United Features Syndicate , where it launched in 2001)
Safe Havens by Bill Holbrook (1988–1992; moved to King Features Syndicate , where it continues to the present)
Stitches by Jeff Danziger (April 1997–c. 1998)
Watch Your Head by Cory Thomas (2006–2014)
See also
References
^ a b "Content" . WP Licensing and Syndication . April 25, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-25 .
^ a b "About Us" . Washington Post – Washington Post Writers Group. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2013 .
^ Carr, David (2009-09-27). "To Cover World, CBS Joins With a News Site" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-02-21 .
^ Boorstin, Julia (Oct 2, 2009). "Washington Post, Bloomberg Partner for Syndicated News" . CNBC .
^ Degg, D.D. (February 20, 2022). "The Washington Post Writers Group Syndicate is "Winding Down Its Syndicated Cartoon Service" " . The Daily Cartoonist . Retrieved 2023-04-25 .
^ Degg, D.D. (April 13, 2022). "Pickles and Loose Parts moves to Andrews McMeel" . The Daily Cartoonist . Retrieved 2023-04-25 .
^ a b c Degg, D.D. (November 30, 2022). "Darrin Bell takes Candorville to King Features" . The Daily Cartoonist . Retrieved 2022-12-09 .
^ a b c d e f g h Tornoe, Rob (June 16, 2022). "New syndication options for illustrators: Syndicates facilitate ongoing opportunity for creators of comics and puzzles" . Editor & Publisher . ...which has distributed dozens of comic strips and editorial cartoons since the early 1970s.
^ "A Comic Life: Donna Lewis '86," UMBC Magazine (Jan. 31, 2011).
^ Holtz, Allan. "Mystery Strips of E&P Special Edition," Stripper's Guide (Jan. 7, 2014).
^ Degg, D. D. (May 13, 2023). "Barney & Clyde and Counterpoint" . The Daily Cartoonist .
^ a b Degg, D. D. (June 1, 2022). "Loose Parts Changes Syndicates (Again)" . The Daily Cartoonist .
^ Holtz, Allan. "Obscurity of the Day: Middle Ages," Stripper's Guide (Feb. 25, 2014).
^ Degg, D. D. (July 29, 2022). "Mike Lester Moves Mike du Jour to Andrews McMeel" . The Daily Cartoonist .
External links
Comic strips (current)
Comic strips (historical)
Editorial commentary